Unbiased Tyre Reviews?

Hi

I've done a bit of searching on net - but only get adverts etc.

It time to replace my BT010 on a VFR800FI - used maily for comuting (wet and
dry) and the odd Sunday run.

Are there any good web sites which offer advice and reviews on selecting
tyres?

Any advice or recommendations would be great!

Simon
London UK

 

If your commute is a straight run where you don't get to lean the bike much,
get some dual compound tyres. BT020's? Can't remember the numbers, maybe your
010's are dual anyway, in which case, stick with 'em if you liked them.

 

Simon Wilson scribbled on the back of a napkin:

BT020 or Avon AV45/46.

 

Simon Wilson emerged from their own little world to say

Pirelli Dragon GTS suited my VFR750

Dual compound jobs like the BT020. I'd fit whichever of these 2 brands came
out cheapest.

 

The BT014, like the older 010 but better.

'Hog

 

The BT014 is really intended for track use where the tyres get somewhat
hotter than most road users - i.e. they will be WORSE grip when cooler than
e.g BT020s - the BT020 is a pretty good tyre for most road users / bikes...

Nick

 

Nick says...

The BT014 is a sporting road tyre not a trackday tyre, that's the
BT012SS or BT002. IMHO the BT012SS seems at least as good the BT020 in
the cold and wet.

Oh and post at the bottom of the text you're replying to, please.

 

Yessss, the BT014 comes as standard on some big jap sprotbikes. It's a
road tyre up to track day abuse

'Hog

 

'Hog says...

They fucking rock, but don't last very long. I need a new one for the
Gixer after 3 weeks and 1300 miles.

 

Too right. I've added a constant 20mph to my personal best down a
favourite road near here.

Only thing that marred the ride was a twat on a Hayabusa nearly having
me off[1]. Should have had words but decided after watching a bit
more of his riding that he'll crash sooner rather than later if he
keeps going the way he was.


[1] Undertook me, then cut across the front of me to overtake the car
in the lefthand lane on a dual. Millimetres between my front wheel
and his rear. Wouldn't have minded but for the fact I was doing
around 130 and the car was doing 70 odd and I was nearly alongside it.

 

You're wrong on two counts:

a) how to format a post.
b) the tyres.

 

I recall now that tyre did Belfast to EOSM 2004 and back so it's not too
bad.

'Hog

 

'Hog says...

I was wondering why it hadn't lasted all that well, and why it was so
squared off when I got home. I didn't even look at it in NI, just
assumed it was almost new. There'll be a new one going on this week.

 

Bearing in mind I had completely forgotten the Gixxer had been to EOSM,
then it struck me you had seen the bike before therefor it must have!
Such are my powers of recall these days. So it might have done 800 or
1000 miles as it was parked up at Carrie's and I also recall we took a
run up to the Ginge nest one evening. I wouldn't really expect more
than 2.5-3k on a rear and a front every second change. Those AP's have
got to be hard on the tyre!

'Hog

 

'Hog says...

Please don't take that the wrong way, I was just happy it had a tyre on
it to be perfectly honest. I wasn't expecting any more than 2500 from a
rear anyway, so that works out about right.

 

On Sun, 22 May 2005 10:17:49 +0000 (UTC), "Simon Wilson"

Buy radials.

 

What are you running on the Tiger at the moment? My one need new rubbery
things in the next few weeks and I could use a clue.

 

I *think* Verdi may be using Pirellis at the moment, & he's also a fan
of Trailwings. Tourances are far & away the most popular choice on the
Yahoo Tiger group. If you never go off-road, BT020s are worth
considering.

 

If you never go off road there is no point in even considering anything
but a full on road tyre!

Hog

 

There is if you ride a lot of tiny unclassified backroads, which are
frequently strewn with shit & gravel. Big trailie tyres work much
better on those.